Optimistic Nut

Add in the context of the fixture list in general around that time. I know we got thumped at the likes of Bournemouth, Spurs and Everton but to beat Chelsea and Man Utd and draw away to PSG with the squad we had is amazing looking back.

He's surely at the stage now where he should just hold his hands up, say he's been misguided/misinformed/wrong and try to save his career. Unless he's happy with this being his career now and leaching on this sort of person.

Think the frustration was we didn't get to play matchdays 4 to 6 with the sort of squad that could have done something. We could have nicked the home Borussia match but we were crippled games 4-5, the PSG game would have been a miracle had we won. I reckon our squad with 3-4 key injuries would have qualified.

Borussia & PSG in the last 4 then? Think we'd have taken at least 3 more points off them in the group if we'd not had the injuries we had. Frustrating.

Southampton 3 up. 5 off the top with a game in hand, Leicester & Leeds both away in the last 4. Best promotion race in the Football League ever?

Not a monumental difference, then.

If ever we sack Howe mid-season, I could definitely see him back as an Interim like he did at Chelsea one year.

I don't think the takeover happens without Rafa, like. Him uniting the fans with the club even under Ashley gave a glimpse of the potential of the club. If we'd went for Steve Bruce for instance after McClaren, I don't think we'd have looked an attractive proposition at all.

We've got a great high press, a central-defence that can win most in the air when they do have to go long, plus dangerous on the counter attack. Once we have the sweeper keeper situation sorted (I still think this area should be one of our priorities this summer), we won't have many weaknesses.

Chances are he'll miss the Champions League campaign anyway if it's an ACL which is a shame.

I love it, think it looks good on that 3rd kit.

I know they've lost 8 points but I think it's debatable they'd have put together that little run of wins after the points deduction when they had that "backs to the wall" mentality. Awful side.

Lewis Ferguson ruled out for Scotland with an ACL. Big blow that.

Keeper off his line...